Interlocking seam structure

ABSTRACT

A seam to join flat panels of paper board material edge to edge or edge to the plane of a second panel employing a pattern of alternately spaced openings and cuts which, when properly placed in an overlapping relationship, can be forced together by applying pressure to specific areas, thus causing an interlocking of said openings and cuts to achieve a permanent or easily opened connection depending upon the cut configuration.

[ Dec. 18, 1973 INTERLOCKING SEAM STRUCTURE [76] inventor: William A. Wootten, 425 Via Corta,

Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. 90274 [22] Filed: June 23, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 155,781

[52] 11.8. CI. 229/48 R, 24/204 [51] int. Cl B65d 5/42 [58] Field of Search 229/39 R, 39 B, 40, 229/48 R; 24/204; 161/48, 53; 220/76 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1196.600 8/1908 Thornton 229/48 R 2,973,129 2/1961 Stone et a1... .1 229/39 R 1,178,748 4/1916 Nicholson 229/39 R 2,109,802 3/1938 Plumb 220/76 2262758 11/1941 Erne 220/76 2.406.123 8/1946 Zalkind. 24/204 3,439,861 4/1969 015011 .v 229/39 R 3.5010112 3 1970 Lock 229 39 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 765,844 1/1957 Great Britain 229/48 R 989,417 4/1965 Great Britain 229/48 R 1,199,123 7/1970 Great Britain 229/48 R Primary ExaminerHerbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus Att0rneyElli0tt J. Pollock [57] ABSTRACT v A seam to join flat panels of paper board material edge to edge or edge to the plane of a second panel 7 employing a pattern of alternately spaced openings 19 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PMENTEDUEC 18 I915 SHEET 10F 2 fizz/enfor PMENTED DEC 1 8 i975 sum 2 UF 2 Inventor.-

l lNTElRLOCKlNG SEAM STRUCTURE BACKGROUND QF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the mechanical joining of paper board parts for the assembly and construction of packages utilized for enclosing articles of commerce.

There are at present many methods for joining flat sheets of paper board material. In general, these are related to the use of adhesives, thermo-plastic materials, glues and accessory tape. Normally, the mechanical interlocking of boxes or packages is a function of one large area, such as the top, bottom or side using a single latch. This invention teaches um of a continuous series of latching mechanical interlocks to accomplish a seam.

In a general sense, paper board containers fall into three categories or divisions. (1) A primary package to contain a basic article of commerce, such as a food product or retail item. Asa rule, this package is decorated for display. (2) A secondary packaging function usually applicable to soft drinks, beers, canned items and the like when such products are solid in multiples. These are carriers or coupling package units that retain several primary units. (3) The third or tertiary packaging tray or shipping carton normally encloses one or two dozen units with protective features for shipping in various transportation modes.

The seam of this invention is applicable to each of these configurations with advantages from the standpoint of economy and processing convenience in manufacture, assembly and packing usage.

The nature of die cutting and preparatory steps in the manufacture of packages in the form of boxes, buckets, tubs, trays, shipping containers and the like, almost always dictates utilization of one basis weight material in the make-up of a single container. This is due to the fact that bottoms, tops, sides and ends are usually constructed from the same die cut sheet which, after folding', gluing or other assembly techniques, assumes the form or configuration associated with the design. The limitation to one basis weight board usage in a package frequently is a wasteful situation where there is, within one unit, a combination of wide side panel areas'with narrow or short panel sections on ends, tops or bottoms. The latter have greater'strength across their limited area and can be of a lighter basis weight.

it is an object of this invention to impart to packagemaking an ability heretofore unknown and to accommodate in the process, due to the nature of this seam, means for varying the paper board basis weight in specific portions of an individual package in relation to other portions. For example, the narrow or short lengths of board in an end, top or bottom panel can be of lighter basis weight than would be the case where a large side panel is a package requirement. The economies in such circumstances can be significant in that board basis weights may be varied as much as 25 percent to 30 percent in this regard alone. The additional economy associated with the reduction of overlapping areas in the manufacture of a box element employing this seam-can be as much as- 5 percent to percent.

In almost all package production employing multi-ply board or corrugated box stock, a package is formed in its entirety with a lid for attachment after filling, or packages are formed in a knock-down configuration for convenience in shipping. Such packages are set of filling control based on volumetric measurement or weight after which the box is closed and sealed. in instances of primary packages for fluids or pastes, the form employed is usually that of tubs, buckets, cups and the like. Such packages are completely formed in a shape providing ability to nest in shipment from the manufacturer of the container to the user. In primary boxes for the packages for dry food and other articles of commerce, boxes are generally in a collapsed folded form that require set up machinery at the time of filling. Secondary units, such as bottle carriers, can packages and the like are generally of the knock-down and set-up type also. Tertiary packages employed for ship-v ping are usually constructed of corrugated board and are supplied in a flat knock-down configuration with capability for machine loading after a person sets the box up in proper shape or a machine performs this operation.

An object of this invention is to provide a seam which makes possible the assembly, from cut sheet stock or from continuous web or roll stock, of a finished box unit on the site of the product processor, thus eliminating costs associated with box formation, die cutting,

gluing and the subsequent shipping expense in the bulks or volume that cannot be reduced substantially due to the folded nature of pre-formed box shapes. Uniform roll stock or sheet material can be packed and shipped with greater efficiency and less-lost space.

Normally, in the production of paper board packages, there is a substantial overlapping of areas to accommodate gluing in the adjoining of side components, as well as for the closing or sealing of the unit after filling. The employment of a seam of the type described in this invention provides mechanical interlocking of panels, eliminating the necessity for large overlapping areas to accommodate glue.

in situations where extreme strength and maximum sealing of a container is a requirement, a slight addition to the internal portions of the seam can provide an adequate area for the utilization of adhesives without the necessity for extreme overlap. The difference in strength is supplied by-the mechanical interlock.

It is an object of this invention to make possible the reduction of adhesives and glues as well as overlapping areas by taking advantage of the strength imparted by mechanical connections afforded through use of this scam.

The utilization of this scam affords a range of strength from permanence, in which maximum advantage is taken of the interlocking elements, down to a seam of the same general configuration but with slightly cut variations that provide ability to readily open the connection, as is desirable in certain forms of package. For example, in the packaging of frozen foods, it is difficult to open a pack with frozen contents under conditions where portions of the box have adhered to the food. in an enclosure employing the seam of the present invention, the lid or opening section of the box can be virtually zipped apart if the seam is properly prepared. Such preparation involves appropriate selection of the dimensions and positioning of a linear slot cut from a boundary edge of a sheet to an interiorly located punched hole in one or both edges being joined. It is this cut slot that makes possible the utilization of the space between holes for transfer or insertion into the hole of the opposite member being joined. The

width of the slot opening and the area of the space between the holes in this edge determines the strength of the final connection.

It is an object of this invention to provide means for varying the strength of a seal by alterationvin the contour or the configuration of a slot out between openings in one or both edges of the unit being joined.

There are circumstances in the production of box units, particularly those associated with secondary containers to carry cans and bottles where the form of the box can require ajoining of more than two elements in the achievement of a specific design configuration. Two or more paper board parts or panels can be joined at the edges or to the face or surface of an additional panel. This is accomplished with a hole pattern coinciding with the openings and cuts produced in the edges of the other components. Such a connection can, for example, be employed to provide divisions radiating from a common center to connect partitions extending between three or more cans or bottles.

It is an additional object of this invention to utilize identical seam geometry as employed in a dual seam for the purpose of coupling more than two elements for-use as appropriate support or structuralv configurations within the requirements of functional design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and the objects of the present invention are achieved by providing a seam consisting of two sheets joined at their boundaries using perforations set back from said boundaries on each sheet. In one panel or sheet the perforations are broken open to the boundary of the sheet on a line from the perforation peripheral edge nearest the boundary in a simple cut or in a rectilinear cut. The spacing of perforations in the two panels or sheets is identical so the space between two perforations and the slotscut from said two perforations to the panel boundary, forms an area that can be forced through the perforations in the opposite panel, the openings in which have not been cut to the boundary of the sheet. The result is an interlock.

A seam of this form and configuration can be accom plished by the application of any suitably controlled force in the nature of a forming tool, a plow or guide or even com pressed air to achieve the necessary deflection and distortion of the area tab of one panel so that it can be forced through the perforation of a second panel, thus causing an interlock. The assembly of all such seams can be accomplished manually by using appropriately pointed tools or by directing an air jet with adequate backup support for the panels being joined.

Machinery and equipment providing means for introducing the pre-perforated cut boundaries of one panel to the uncut perforations of a second panel can be constructed to function automatically and continuously in the assembly of this seam. This can be done by passing the panel edges through an orifice assembly with restriction and control of compressed air that forces the area tabs of one panel to be adjoined with the overlapped perforations of the second panel. Mechanically, two-rollers can be employed; one roller being provided with pins mounted around its periphery and extending from theperipheral face at right angles to the roller axis in conjunction with a second roller in which agroove is cut in the center of its peripheral face to a depth equivalent to that of the pin length of the first roller.

The mounting of these two rollers on parallel axes so that their peripheral faces form a nip affords a way in which to pass overlapped panels through this nip so the pins close in snychronization thru the perforations to accomplish a transfer of the area tab sections.

By employing multiples of mechanical form like those described above, four panel section edges can be assembled at once to achieve a rectangular form equivalent to that of the cross-section of a box. In a similar fashion, a single mechanism can close a single seam in a pre-formed paper board cylinder.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the openings in the edge of a first panel are round, punched holes arranged an appropriate distance from the edge of the panel in keeping with the strength requirements of a corner seam or with spacing providing the specification of a flat seam. This spacing can be reduced to as small a dimension as one-eighth of an inch, or it can be made as great as is desired in keeping with the package dimensions. The perforations in the second panel are also round and include a slot cut from the center of said perforations to the edge of the second panel. The distance between the edge of the first panel and the outer edge of the round perforations therein must not exceed the diameter of the round perforations employed in the second panel. The spacing of round perforations in the second panel must not be so great as to make the area tab between the center line spacing of two perforations and the edge of the second panel exceed the total area or board volume that can be forced through a similar sized perforation in the first panel. This area tab dimension determines seam strength. The width of cuts or slits extending outward to the edge of the second panel is variable, and the distance between the edge of a panel and the center line of a perforation therein may be altered to reduce the volume of board stock that must be forced through the perforation of the opposite panel, thus providing means to control the strength of the mechanical seam produced between panels.

Perforations can be made or placed anywhere within a panel irrespective of the edge and can be well within the plane surface of the sheet in significantly spaced relation to the boundary edges of that sheet. The perforations in the plane surface do not require a connecting cut to the boundary of the panel when employed with the opposite panels using edge out perforations and area tabs as described above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1- is a perspective and separated view of the preferred embodiment of the components of the seam of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective illustation of the preferred form of the finished seam, of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective cut-away illustration of three variations of one component of the preferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective cut-away illustration of the adjoinment of the seam of this invention at right angles.

FIG. 5 isa perspective cut-away illustration of a corner adjoinment of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective cut-awayillustration of an edge adjoinment to the plane surface of a second element.

FIG. 7 is the edge adjoinment of two components to the plane surface of a single element with connection perpendicular to the opposite planes of said surface.

FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of a top or lid unit in which the area tab elements are in the top section and the uncut perforations are in the body of the box form. I

' FIG'. 9 is a perspective illustration of a flat lid section in' which the closed perforations are placed overthe area tabs in the boundary of the standing box sides;

and,

FIG. 9a is a perspective illustration of the closed and heat sealed tab and lid extensions bonded in their folded position.

FIG. is a cylindrical tub or bucket in perspective cut-away illustration of an edge seam and a top lid closure of this method.

FIG. ll is a perspective cut-away illustration of the lid in an enlarged cross-sectional view.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cut-away view in perspective showing the bottom connection of the cylindrical tub unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective partially cut-away illustration of a stiffening assembly system in which two sheets are laminated.

FIG. 14 is a perspective cut-away of a single sheet with assembly of components for stiffening.

FIG. is a perspective illustration of the method of hand assembly.

FIG. l6is an illustration in perspective of a mechanical means for continuous assembly. 7

FIG. 17 is a perspective illustration of an additional embodiment of this invention. A

FIG. 18 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a basic design embodying the seam prin-.

ciples of the present invention. This seam, as illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a panel (1) in which perforations (2) are joined with perforations (3) of panel (4). A cut (5) from the panel boundary to the perforations (3) of panel (4) makes possible the placement of the area tab (6) within the perforation opening (2) when pressure is applied from below to force area tab through the perforation (2). I

FIG. 2 illustrates the completed seam. Panel (I) having the closed perforations therein has been overlapped by panel (4) with each area tab (6) alternating with the perforations (2) of the upper or overlapping panel. By displacing each area tab (6) thru a perforation (2), by pressure applied'from below a seam is accomplished which interlocks-said panel components.

FIG. 3 illustrates variations in-area tab cuts in panels (4a), (4b) and (40). These cuts connecting the perforations and the boundary of the panel can be like the slot (5) of FIG. 1 i.e., in the form ofa simple, relatively narrow, straight line cut or the cut can be of wider form as shown at (8) in panels 4(a) and 4(b). For mechanical convenience, the cutting can be made in direction parallel to that of the line of perforations or, as shown in 4(0), the cut can be made along a line (9) which removes a portion of each round perforation.

FIG. 4 depicts a right angle adjoinment of panels (1) and (4), and illustrates the interlocking of the panel elements by aseam like that of'FIG.'2, i.e., with each area tab (6) of panel (4) being forced through an opening.(2) of panel (I).

FIG. 5 illustrates a corner adjoinment in which panel (1) andpanel (4) are adjoined by area tabs (6) extending through openings (2) as in FIGS. 2 and 4 but with a bottom section (10) added as shown in cut-away. The area tabs (11) of bottom (10) extend through closed perforations in both panel (I) and panel (2).

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a seam like that of FIG. 2 adjoining the edge of a panel 13 to an intermediate section of a a panel (12), i.e., perforations (2) are in the plane surface area of the panel (12) and the area tabs (6) of panel (13) have been extended through the perforations (2) to lock the panels together.

FIG. 7 illustrates two panels, (14a) and (14b), the

area tabs of which (6a) and (6b) have been extended thru the same line of perforations (2) in panel (12), located in the plane surface of panel (12), from opposite directions.

FIG. 8 is a square carton top (I5) made up of panels perforated on four sides to provide area tabs (6) which are forced through perforations (2) in the box side panel boundaries.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of an alternative embodiment of the invention in which a panel (17), provided with uncut perforations (2), is placed over area tabs (7) and encircle said area tabs. In this embodiment, the area tabs (7) are like those of FIG. 3, i.e., for panel (4b).

FIG. 9a illustrates how the lid configuration of FIG. 9 is closed. The tabs (7) are folded inward, and the outer edges of the panel (17) are folded downwardly against the box sides, to form a seal and lock. This final configuration is accomplished by use of pre-coated adhesive surfaces, gluing or other adhesive means.

FIG. It) is a perspective illustration of a bucket or tub unit employing the seam of FIGS. 1 and 2 at (20), joining a cylinder of board stock (21) and employing a lid 22 with a seam 23 like that shown at (40) in FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged cut-away perspective illustration showing the board stock of the cylinder wall (21) of the bucket of FIG. 10 joined to a lid (22)which is mounted within the tapered confines of the cylinder formed by the walls (2H) by forcing the lid (22) past an embossed ridge (24) so that the area tabs (7) match and pass through openings (2) providing a latch and securing the lid. I

FIG. 12 is an enlarged cut-away view showing an example of a bottom configuration usable in the tub or bueketof FIG. MI in which the area tab (6) is a part of the cylindrical wall configuration (21) and is passed through openings (2) to provide a latch like that of FIGS. I and 2.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional view showing two laminated sheets that have been strengthened by ribs with a fold configuration forming an angle as shown at (30) and (31), with area tabs (6) cut in their boundaries and forced through openings (2) in the lamination (2) to achieve interlocking seams like those of FIGS. l and 2, thus providing and imparting rigidity to this assembly. Lamination is performed after the mounting of FIG. is a perspective illustration showing a means for hand assembly of a seam like that of FIGS. 1 and 2. Two sheets are assembled by overlapping the boundary surface of sheet on sheet (36). A pin (38) is applied to area tab surface (6) the force of which causes this area to move through perforations (2) thus achieving an interlocking seam.

FIG. 16 is a perspective partially cut-away illustration to show means forassembling two sheets using a machine method. The boundary of sheet (35) overlaps a sheet (36) so that area tabs (6) coincide with the perforations (2), and the overlapped sheet boundaries are then passed through the nip of rolls (40) and (41) mounted on parallel axes (42) and (43),Peripheral pins (44) approximately the size of perforations (2), move in synchronization with the passage of said perforations (2) in sheet (36) and forcibly engage area tabs (6) in sheet (35) to cause said area tabs' to pass through the perforations (2) under the pressure of pin (44) in the nip between rolls (40) and (41). The groove (45) provides a clearance space for pins (44) after they have passed through sheets (35) and (36), and the peripheral surfaces (46) on roller (41) provide support to the two sheets as this function is performed. A finished seam is shown at (47).

FIG. 17 is an illustration in three dimensional perspective showing an additional embodiment of this invention. Sheet (50) is joined with sheet (51) through the use of elongated openings (52) which are joined with area tabs of the configuration (53). When coupled,a seam like that shown at (54) results.

FIG. 18 is another embodiment of this invention in which both boundaries of panels or sheets being joined are cut to provide areatabs. Panels (60) and (61) are initially prepared with perforations of identical dimension and spacing, arranged in the edge of both panels as shown at (62). Angular cuts between the boundary of the sheets and the perforations, placed at regular intervals as shown at (63), are alternately interwoven or lapped to achieve the seam form shown at (64).

The embodiment illustrated in .FIG. 17, joins two panels but differs from other embodiments with respect to the manner in which the edge boundary is prepared prior to joining. One panel employs a conventional perforation of round form with an angular cut connecting the edge boundary and tangentially joining the perforation at its mean circumference. The second panel or sheet is prepared with an elongated perforation having rounded ends equivalent in radius to that of the perforation of the first panel and placed at the identical angle as that of the cut of the first panel. The length of the perforation is the equivalent of the length of an imaginary line drawn perpendicular to the boundary edge of the first panel and the nearest circumference tangent point of the perforation of said panel.

The adjoinment of these two elements provides an interlocking of area tab width in proportion to the length of the perforation of the second panel. Consequently, an increase in area tab size produces a connection with a proportional increase in strength.

In the embodiment of FIG. 18 both sheets are uniformly cut and perforated. Round perforations are employed that are equally spaced with respect to the panel boundary and in relation to one another. The slots 63, extending tangentially to the mean circumference of the perforations and opening into the outer boundary of the sheet can be varied from the perpendicular to an angle of approximately 45 from the perpendicular with respect to the panel boundary line. This variation in angle affords improvement in the ease of opening the seam where desirable. The two panels are adjoined by the alternate placement of area tabs one over the other so that the perforations latch by enclosing the space or separation between each perforated area. The dimension of perforation spacing must be essentially the diameter of the perforations employed.

It is not necessary that the various seams of this invention be restricted to using perforations of round form. Seams can be fabricated by employing perforations or openings of varied shape, with cuts or slots extending outward from these openings to the edge of the panel in a variey of angular relationships to the panel edge, thus facilitating opening. In addition, as described above, edge cutting to the perforations can be provided in both sheets being joined, for mechanical convenience and to accommodate variations in the machinery employed to make the seam connection.

Various other changes in size, shape and arrangement of perforations and the placement of perforations in relation to the boundaries of the panels utilized will be apparent to a person skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention disclosed herein.

I claim:

1. A paper board box structure comprising a plurality of flat paperboard panels extending in planes which are angularly disposed on one another, said panels being interconnected to one another adjacent their respective edges to form the bottom, top, and sides of a selfsupporting container which bounds an interior region adapted to removably receivearticles of commerce, at least two of said panels being interconnected to one another by a separable seam adapted to be opened in zipper-like fashion by the application of separating forces to the edges of said panels adjacent to said seam thereby to provide access to the interior of said container, the first'of said two paperboard pane'ls having a first boundary edge disposed adjacent said separable seam, a plurality of spaced first perforations in said first panel, said first perforations comprising likedimensioned round perforations each of which is completely bounded by the material of said first panel, each of said first perforations being disposed along a line closely adjacent to and positionally set back from said first boundary edge, the second of said two paper board panels having a second boundary edge disposed in overlapping relation to said first boundary edge closely adjacent to said line of first perforations in said first panel, a plurality of round second perforations spaced from one another in said second panel, each of said second perforations being disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge and having a portion opening into said second boundary edge to form a plurality of separated tabs spaced from one another along said second edge between said second perforations, the spacing between said tabs being the same as the spacing between said first perforations, the distance between said first boundary edge and the nearest adjacent edge of each of said round first perforations being no greater than the diameter of each of said round second perforations, said plurality of tabs extending through said plurality of first perforations respectively to maintain said first and second boundary edges in mechanically engaged relation to one another clue solely to the mechanical forces exerted between said plurality of tabs and said plurality of first perforations there to form said separable seam between said first and second panels.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a linear slot extends from the periphery of each of said round second perforations to said second boundary edge.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said linear slots has a width substantially equal to the diameter of its associated round second perforation.

4. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said linear slots has a width which is less than the diameter of its associated second perforation, each linear slot being disposed substantially tangent to its associated perforation.

5. The structure of claim 2 wherein the width of each said linear slots is less than the diameter of its associated second perforation, said slots, when extended, passing through the centers of their associated second perforations.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said round first perforations have the same diameter as said round second perforations.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said tabs has a relatively wide portion disposed along said second boundary edge and merging into a narrower neck portion located interiorly of said second panel in spaced relation to said second boundary edge.

8. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said tabs has at least a portion thereof which is wider, in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge, than the diameter of eachof said first perforations. Y

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein each of said wider tab portions is disposed along said second boundary edge, each of said wider'tab portions merging into a narrower neck portion having a width, in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge, which does not exceed the diameter of each of said first perforations.

10. The structure of claim 11 wherein said first and second panels are disposed at an angle to one another. 11. The structure of claim wherein the boundary edge of at least one of said first and second panels is angularly disposed to the remainder of said panel to effect a parallel planar overlapping relation between said first and second boundary edges.

12. The structure of claim 10 wherein said angle is substantially 90. 7

13. The structure of claim ll wherein said spaced first perforations are separated from one another by a common spacing, said spacing second perforations being separatd from one another by the same common spacing.

14. A paper board structure comprising a first paper board panel having a first boundary edge, a plurality of spaced first perforations in said first panel, each of said first perforations being disposed along a line positionally set back from said first boundary edge, a second paper board panel having a second boundary edge disposedclosely adjacent to said line of first perforations in said first panel, a plurality of spaced second perforations in saidecond panel, each of said second perforations being disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge and having a portion opening into said second boundary edge to form a plurality of separated tabs spaced from one another along said second edge between said second perforations, the spacing between said tabs being the same as the spacing between said first perforations, said plurality of tabs extending through said plurality of first perforations respectively to form a seam between said first and second panels, said second panel extending at an angle to said first panel away from one side of said first panel, and a third panel having boundary edge tabs substantially identical in configuration to those formed along the second boundary edge of said second panel, said third panel extending at an angle to said first panel away from the other side of said first panel with the boundary edge tabs of said third panel extending through said plurality of first perforations from the other side of said first panel.

15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said second and third panels are substantially coplanar with one another and substantially orthogonal to said first panel.

16. A package structure comprising a plurality of flat paperboard sheets interconnected to one another to form a self-supporting container adapted to receive and support articles of commerce, at least two of said sheets being interconnected to one another solely by a mechanical interlocking seam, a first of said two sheets having a first boundary edge, said first sheet having a plurality of like-dimensioned, spaced first perforations disposed along a line relatively widely spaced from said first edge at an intermediate portion of said first sheet, each of said first perforations being completely bounded by the material of said first sheet, a second sheet extending at an angle to said first sheet and having a second boundary edge disposed closely adjacent to said intermediate portion of said first sheet, said second sheet having a plurality of second perforations therein spaced along a line disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge, said second boundary edge defining a plurality of evenly spaced slots opening into said plurality of second perforations respectively whereby the material of said second sheet between said slots and between said second perforations constitutes a plurality of tabs each of which tabs includes a portion of said second boundary edge, the spacing between said slots, in a'direction parallel to said second edge, being greater than the maximum dimension of each of said first perforations in a direction parallel to said first boundary edge, each of said tabs extending through a perforation in said first sheet respectively to mechanically interlock said first and second sheets together with said second sheet extending angularly away from said intermediate portion of said first sheet.

17. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of first perforations is round.-

18. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of second perforations is round.

19. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said slots has a substantially uniform width throughout its extension between said second boundary edge and the second perforation associated therewith, the width of said slot being less than the dimension of its associated second perforation in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge. 1

I'm-1 UNITE]; STATESPATENT;OFFICE i We ERTIFICAIE ()FCORRECTION March 26, 1974 Patent No. 48 Dated t. I I Pa e l A v t Takamitsu 'Nozawa; Takao Kishi a It is certified that error-appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected asshown below:

F- l7 A liquid spraying device comprising a container for liquid, a spray head associated with said container and further including spray emission means having a'terminal portion, nozzle means associated witha first chamber communicating with said spray; head and the emission means, spring means encircling said emission means and interposed betwee'n relatively movable members, -means to cause said members to ro tate where upon the terminus offsaid iemis'sion means is brought into sealed engagement with a second chamber. including check valve means, said second chamber being placed into communication with said container upon a sealed condition being established between 1 the emission, means and means cooperative therewith to permit entrance of liquid under pressure intosaid first chamber.

, 1 18. A liquid. spraying device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the relatively movable members are qcomple'mentally formed-and are disposed concentrically relative to each other.

I 19. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 18, wherein therelatively movable concentric members are associated with a guide means.

20; A'liguid spraying device as claimed inclaim '19, whe rein'the guide means-include a bottom cover provided witnf an air inlet valve. 3

(continued on' page 2) v l J $40.50 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (5/69" CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,779,448 Dated March 1974 Page 2 inventor) Takamitsu Nozawa; Takao Kishi It is certified that error'appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

I Y I F I 21. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 17,

wherein the nozzle means include further means axially movable relative to the emission means.

22. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 17, wherein one of the relatively movable means includes a terminal portion arranged to project into the second chamber.

23. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the terminal portion of the movable means is provided with an apertured ring which serves to receive the terminus of the emission means.

24. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the emission means terminates in the terminal portion of the relatively movable means.

25 A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 24, wherein the terminal portion of the relatively movable means cooperates with the check valve means 26. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the check valve means includes means to engage a spring 1 loaded valve member associated with the terminal portion of said movable means.

27. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the guide means is complementally formed internally to receive the container.

(continued on page 3) J mn I UNlTED STATESPATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION Dated March 26, I 1974 Patent No. 3, 779,448 I Page 3 i y'l'akamitsu Nozawa; Takao Kishi It is certified that. error-appears in the above-identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: A

l" 28. A liquid spraying device as vclaimed in claim 19,

wherein the guide means is complementally formed externally to receive the container.

- 29. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the terminal portion of said movable means encompasses said check valve means. I A

30. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the terminal portion of the movable, meansis associated with dependent spring loaded means adapted to cooperate with the check valve means. U i

' 31'. A liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the terminal portion of the movable means includes valve seat means and the check valve meanss'upports supplemental valve means for cooperation with "said valve seat means. I

. v 32. A I liquid spraying device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the terminal portion of the movable means comprises a throat portion-arranged to receivea valve seat, said valve seat cooperating with a spring loaded valve means supported in said throat portion. Q 5

Signed and'sea1edv thi'slhlQfih d-a fl 'or November 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON JR. 'Attesting Officer 'c MARSHALL DANN. Commissioner of Patents 

1. A paper board box structure comprising a plurality of flat paperboard panels extending in planes which are angularly disposed on one another, said panels being interconnected to one another adjacent their respective edges to form the bottom, top, and sides of a self-supporting container which bounds an interior region adapted to removably receive articles of commerce, at least two of said panels being interconnected to one another by a separable seam adapted to be opened in zipper-like fashion by the application of separating forces to the edges of said panels adjacent to said seam thereby to provide access to the interior of said container, the first of said two paper board panels having a first boundary edge disposed adjacent said separable seam, a plurality of spaced first perforations in said first panel, said first perforations comprising like-dimensioned round perforations each of which is completely bounded by the material of said first panel, each of said first perforations being disposed along a line closely adjacent to and positionally set back from said first boundary edge, the second of said two paper board panels having a second boundary edge disposed in overlapping relation to said first boundary edge closely adjacent to said line of first perforations in said first panel, a plurality of round second perforations spaced from one another in said second panel, each of said second perforations being disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge and having a portion opening into said second boundary edge to form a plurality of separated tabs spAced from one another along said second edge between said second perforations, the spacing between said tabs being the same as the spacing between said first perforations, the distance between said first boundary edge and the nearest adjacent edge of each of said round first perforations being no greater than the diameter of each of said round second perforations, said plurality of tabs extending through said plurality of first perforations respectively to maintain said first and second boundary edges in mechanically engaged relation to one another due solely to the mechanical forces exerted between said plurality of tabs and said plurality of first perforations there to form said separable seam between said first and second panels.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein a linear slot extends from the periphery of each of said round second perforations to said second boundary edge.
 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said linear slots has a width substantially equal to the diameter of its associated round second perforation.
 4. The structure of claim 2 wherein each of said linear slots has a width which is less than the diameter of its associated second perforation, each linear slot being disposed substantially tangent to its associated perforation.
 5. The structure of claim 2 wherein the width of each said linear slots is less than the diameter of its associated second perforation, said slots, when extended, passing through the centers of their associated second perforations.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein said round first perforations have the same diameter as said round second perforations.
 7. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said tabs has a relatively wide portion disposed along said second boundary edge and merging into a narrower neck portion located interiorly of said second panel in spaced relation to said second boundary edge.
 8. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said tabs has at least a portion thereof which is wider, in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge, than the diameter of each of said first perforations.
 9. The structure of claim 8 wherein each of said wider tab portions is disposed along said second boundary edge, each of said wider tab portions merging into a narrower neck portion having a width, in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge, which does not exceed the diameter of each of said first perforations.
 10. The structure of claim 1 wherein said first and second panels are disposed at an angle to one another.
 11. The structure of claim 10 wherein the boundary edge of at least one of said first and second panels is angularly disposed to the remainder of said panel to effect a parallel planar overlapping relation between said first and second boundary edges.
 12. The structure of claim 10 wherein said angle is substantially 90*.
 13. The structure of claim 1 wherein said spaced first perforations are separated from one another by a common spacing, said spacing second perforations being separatd from one another by the same common spacing.
 14. A paper board structure comprising a first paper board panel having a first boundary edge, a plurality of spaced first perforations in said first panel, each of said first perforations being disposed along a line positionally set back from said first boundary edge, a second paper board panel having a second boundary edge disposed closely adjacent to said line of first perforations in said first panel, a plurality of spaced second perforations in said econd panel, each of said second perforations being disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge and having a portion opening into said second boundary edge to form a plurality of separated tabs spaced from one another along said second edge between said second perforations, the spacing between said tabs being the same as the spacing between said first perforations, said plurality of tabs extending through said plurality of first perforations respectively to form a seam between said first and second panels, said second panel extending at an angle to said first panel away from one side of said first panel, and a third panel having boundary edge tabs substantially identical in configuration to those formed along the second boundary edge of said second panel, said third panel extending at an angle to said first panel away from the other side of said first panel with the boundary edge tabs of said third panel extending through said plurality of first perforations from the other side of said first panel.
 15. The structure of claim 14 wherein said second and third panels are substantially coplanar with one another and substantially orthogonal to said first panel.
 16. A package structure comprising a plurality of flat paperboard sheets interconnected to one another to form a self-supporting container adapted to receive and support articles of commerce, at least two of said sheets being interconnected to one another solely by a mechanical interlocking seam, a first of said two sheets having a first boundary edge, said first sheet having a plurality of like-dimensioned, spaced first perforations disposed along a line relatively widely spaced from said first edge at an intermediate portion of said first sheet, each of said first perforations being completely bounded by the material of said first sheet, a second sheet extending at an angle to said first sheet and having a second boundary edge disposed closely adjacent to said intermediate portion of said first sheet, said second sheet having a plurality of second perforations therein spaced along a line disposed closely adjacent to said second boundary edge, said second boundary edge defining a plurality of evenly spaced slots opening into said plurality of second perforations respectively whereby the material of said second sheet between said slots and between said second perforations constitutes a plurality of tabs each of which tabs includes a portion of said second boundary edge, the spacing between said slots, in a direction parallel to said second edge, being greater than the maximum dimension of each of said first perforations in a direction parallel to said first boundary edge, each of said tabs extending through a perforation in said first sheet respectively to mechanically interlock said first and second sheets together with said second sheet extending angularly away from said intermediate portion of said first sheet.
 17. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of first perforations is round.
 18. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said plurality of second perforations is round.
 19. The structure of claim 16 wherein each of said slots has a substantially uniform width throughout its extension between said second boundary edge and the second perforation associated therewith, the width of said slot being less than the dimension of its associated second perforation in a direction parallel to said second boundary edge. 